Howard defends chaplain scheme proposal

October 31, 2006 — 3.34am

Prime Minister John Howard has denied that a scheme to promote chaplains in schools was blurring the line between the state and the church.

"Those who say this is blurring the distinction are therefore saying that paying assistance to independent schools is blurring the distinction. Plainly neither is," he told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

And he denied the plan changed in any way the secular nature of Australian society.

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"I think we are a secular society in the sense that we don't have an established religion," Mr Howard said.

Under the program, every Australian school will be eligible for a $20,000 grant to employ a chaplain.

The government will have a final veto on the choice of spiritual guidance provider.

But Mr Howard promised the government wouldn't discriminate in any way.

"The identity and the religious background would be a matter for the individual school," he said.

There are concerns that the multitude of religious and cultural backgrounds in some schools may make it difficult for a school community to agree on an appropriate chaplain.

Mr Howard said schools were having to deal with those sorts of difficult issues all the time.

"(In Parents & Citizens associations) there are always debates about this or that," he said.

"If they can't deal with this matter or don't want to touch it, they don't have to.

"I don't think every school will take it up.

"It's an optional extra we are willing to support."

Mr Howard rejected the proposition that he was trying to promote religion.